Can I apply for a passport for my daughter who is a green card holder?

by Guddy
(tx)

Question: She has had a green card for 5 years. Both parents are citizens living together. Can we apply for a passport for our daughter or do we have to apply for the citizenship certificate first? Pls help.

Answer: U.S. Passports are only issued to U.S. citizens. A child born outside the United States automatically becomes a citizen by virtue of the naturalization of his or her parents if the child is under 18 years of age, possesses a green card and resides with his or her parents. Minor children who obtain Unites States citizenship by derivation, do not need to participate in the naturalization ceremony.

Of course, any child born in the U.S., automatically obtains United States citizenship. From the description you provided above, I believe that you can apply for a U.S. passport for your daughter. For complete instructions, click the link below.

Comments for Can I apply for a passport for my daughter who is a green card holder?

Question: Hi. Can I apply for my children's US passports? I am a US Citizen by birth and my husband just got his green card. So, are my two girls (6 and 7 years old) automatically citizens?

Answer: If your daughters were born in the United States, they are US citizens by birth. If they were born abroad, whether or not they are US citizens depends on whether or not you were "physically present" in the U.S. before your children's births for a total period of at least five years, two of which had to be after your fourteenth birthday. If your daughters are US citizens based on either of the criterion listed above, you can apply for their passports.